Patent Application
20110232326
The invention relates to an evaporator for a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator, comprising at least one plate and at least one refrigerant channel, through which the refrigerant circulates during use. The invention also relates to a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator.
Evaporator plates are known from the prior art. For example, in this case there is at least one double-layered plate, the two plate layers being connected together by rolling or similar methods. By specific methods, however, channels may be stamped or “inflated” between the two plate layers. In this manner, a suitable pattern consisting of refrigerant channels, the so-called “channel pattern” may be incorporated in the plate. If the plate layers are connected together by rolling, the plates are also referred to as roll-bond plates.
For various reasons, it may be necessary to fasten a tube to an evaporator, for example a protective tube for a temperature sensor, or a tubular temperature sensor. In the prior art, such tubes are fastened by bonding, combined with further additional retaining parts for fixing to a plate. Also the use of clamps for screwing the tube onto the plate is already known. This requires several operating steps, however.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an evaporator comprising a plate, to which a tube may be permanently fastened in a simple manner. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims.
According to the invention, the plate has a receptacle for positioning the tube, which receptacle is formed by at least one projection which forms a longitudinal guide of the tube on the at least one plate, along which said tube is held. The position of the tube is secured by the longitudinal guide, and the tube may be pressed against the projection during fastening, so that during fastening it is not able to slip on the plate. In this manner, the fastening of the tube to the plate is considerably simplified.
Preferably, the longitudinal guide is formed by at least one channel stamped into the plate, the tube bearing at least partially against the channel wall thereof in the longitudinal direction. Such a channel may be part of the at least one refrigerant channel, or even a channel specifically designed as a receptacle for positioning the tube. The channel may be stamped into the plate or, as is usual in roll-bond plates, “inflated” between two plate layers. The channel preferably has in the longitudinal direction at least partially the same shape as the tube, which bears against the channel wall thereof—preferably both are approximately straight at least on the portion where they bear against one another.
For forming the longitudinal guide, currently two preferred embodiments are conceivable: according to a first embodiment the longitudinal guide is formed by a channel into which a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the channel is stamped, and in which the tube is at least partially supported in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, a channel is provided, for example, the shape thereof corresponding to that of the tube. Said channel is, for example, initially formed as an elongate, raised portion on one side of the plate. Along the slope of the raised portion an elongate, stamped recess is produced. The tube is embedded into the receptacle thus produced.
According to a second embodiment, the longitudinal guide is formed by two at least substantially parallel channels, between which the tube is at least partially supported in the longitudinal direction. The two parallel channels thus preferably form two elongate, raised portions on one side of the plate, extending approximately parallel, the tube coming to rest in the “valley” between the two raised portions. The tube thus bears against the outer face of the channel walls. The two channels are preferably parallel to one another, but may—depending on the shape and size of the tube to be fastened—form an angle of up to 10° relative to one another. In each case, the two channels are preferably straight, at least in one portion.
By means of a longitudinal guide thus produced, a tube may be positioned against the plate at a defined point. At this point said tube is preferably adhesively fastened to the at least one plate, bearing against the longitudinal guide. This may, for example, occur by means of adhesive or by other material connections such as welding, soldering, etc.
Particularly preferably, an adhesive strip is used for the adhesive fastening. In this case, it is preferably an adhesive strip made of plastics or an adhesive strip comprising an aluminum coating.
Preferably, the tube forms a protective tube for a temperature sensor. In such a protective tube, the capillary tube of a thermostatic switch is inserted, which switches the compressor of the refrigerator on and off. Alternatively, the tube may also serve to protect electrical cables or the like. Moreover, the tube itself may be a temperature sensor.
The plate preferably consists of two plate layers which bear substantially against one another, but in at least one plate layer at the point of the at least one channel, said plate layers are bulged to form the channel cavity. Preferably, the two plate layers, between which the channel pattern is formed, consist of steel or in particular an aluminum alloy. The plate according to the invention may be produced in the known manner, in particular by roll bonding.
Preferably, the evaporator is embodied as a roll-bond or Z-bond evaporator, in which in addition to the at least one refrigerant channel at least one channel is incorporated, embodied as a blind channel serving as a longitudinal guide for the tube. This has the advantage that the channel which forms the longitudinal guide for the tube may be produced in the same manner and at the same time as the channel pattern of the refrigerant channels. The word “blind channel” means that this channel and/or these channels is/are not connected to the channel pattern for the refrigerant. However, they are preferably produced in the same manner as the at least one refrigerant channel so that no additional operating step is required.
Further advantages of the invention are that the plate no longer has to be treated further after the inflation and stamping process, that the planar design of the blind channels causes less transport damage and the channel ends do not require to be sealed. The overall costs may, as a result, be considerably reduced.
The invention also relates to a refrigerator, which has an evaporator according to the invention. Particularly preferably, the refrigerator is a domestic refrigerator, in particular a fridge, a deep freezer or chest freezer.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In a subsequent manufacturing step, for example, the capillary tube of a thermostatic switch is inserted into the protective tube 2 sufficiently far that it protrudes therefrom by the distance X. As a result, it is possible to monitor visually the correct isothermal layout of the sensor which establishes the temperature of the tubing 4 and/or of the refrigerant flowing therein along said tubing, so that the compressor may be switched on or off depending on the temperature.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2008 044 253.4 | Dec 2008 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP09/65130 | 11/13/2009 | WO | 00 | 5/25/2011 |
